Lack, H.W. (2020). Theodor Kotschy in Iran, 1841–1843. Botanical collections and an early printed vegetation profile. Candollea 75: 31–43. In English, English abstract.

In 1841–1843 Theodor Kotschy travelled extensively in Iran and collected vast amounts of plant specimens. Edmond Boissier undertook the determinations of the material and validated numerous names new to science, often exclusively based on Kotschy's specimens. Subsequently Rudolf Friedrich Hohenacker arranged for the distribution of this material in two exsiccata series, which are today available for consultation in numerous herbaria. Kotschy's unknown botanical field book kept in the archive of the Herbarium Haussknecht in Jena is analysed for the first time and so is an exceedingly rare, printed vegetation profile published by Hohenacker in 1846, which summarizes Kotschy's pertinent sketches done in the field in southwestern Iran in 1842. Both documents are set into the context of their time and are shown to echo earlier works by Alexander von Humboldt done in tropical America. In addition, extensive information on Kotschy's travels in Iran is presented from Ludwig Ritter von Köchel's report as well as from archival material kept in the Herbarium Haussknecht and the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna.

Received: November 2, 2019; Accepted: February 4, 2020; First published online: March 24, 2020